Related Indicators

Racial Disparity

Desired Trend

Current Trend

Definition

Ratio of white median household income to black median household income

Why is it Important?

Racial disparities such as the gap in income between whites and blacks are serious roadblocks to building a sustainable and equitable society.1 The disparity in income is due to a variety of factors, which includes differences in work experience, education, and choice of occupation but may also be due to discrimination, whether unconscious or overt. Addressing these factors and closing the gap will increase choice and opportunity for all residents, regardless of race.

How are we Doing?

The disparity between white and black median household income was about the same in 2016, 1.82, as it was in 2010, 1.88 (not a statistically significant change). As of 2016, the average white (non-Hispanic) household in St. Louis earned $66,815, almost twice as much as the average black (non-Hispanic) household income at $36,676. This disparity increased over the longer time frame from 1.79 in 2000. Racial disparity in the region increased during and after the Great Recession to 2.09 in 2012. It has declined slightly over the past few years but is not as low as it was in 2000.

The racial disparity in income is higher in the St. Louis area than the United States. In 2016, the St. Louis region’s ratio of 1.82 was 11 percent higher than the ratio of 1.64 for the United States. Among the 48 most populous metropolitan regions for which there is complete data, St. Louis ranks as having the 20th highest disparity in household income between whites and blacks. This is an improvement of a rank of 12th in 2014 and 17th in 2015. Many of the peer Midwestern regions have similar or higher disparities.

Geographic Level

Notes

1The racial composition of the St. Louis region is largely white and African American with only eight percent of the population being of other races (2016). Since the St. Louis region is largely bi-racial, this indicator focuses on the disparity between blacks and whites.

Data Sources

U.S. Census and American Community Survey, United States Census Bureau